From Gerald (Gerry) Brown, Media Consultant in Hong Kong, the latest buzz on the Digital Broadcasters market in Asia-Pacific, South Asia and the Middle East covering the latest content and hardware moves in HDTV, 3G, IPTV, Mobile TV, terrestrial radio and TV, cable TV, broadband, satellite broadcast and streaming online.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Malaysia: RadiqRadio Back On Air

Billed as Malaysia's first community radio station, RadiqRadio, a
project under the Centre for Independent Journalism(CIJ) was re-
launched on March 19 after a hiatus for the past three years due to
lack of funding.

Local and international support has helped to revive the project.

CIJ director Sonia Randhawa said, "We have worked hard to get this
project up and running, and we believe that it will be a turning
point in the start of community media in Malaysia."

RadiqRadio will carry news and analysis, mainly in Bahasa Malaysia
but in other languages as well. The main focus will however be on
program content prepared by the community and targeted at the
community. .

RadiqRadio hopes to use AM frequencies in the next few months.
(Currently on FM?)

The station is being permitted to accept advertisements, but will not
be commercially driven.

The project backers, The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is a
media organisation that aims to improve current Malaysian journalism
practice and independence through advocacy, research and analysis,
training and practical work. Started in 2001, CIJ has initiated
various projects in developing grassroots communications skills
through training, infrastructural support and direct action.